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Overview

The USB crash cart adapter gives you control of a headless system, turning your laptop into a portable crash cart for rack servers, PCs, ATMs, kiosks, and more.

Instant System Access

Simply connect the laptop crash cart adapter to your computer using the included USB cable, then connect the integrated USB and VGA cables to your server for instant BIOS-level control. With no server-side software required, you can be up and running instantly.

Troubleshoot More Efficiently

With the flexible software interface, you can transfer files from your laptop to the server, capture videos for records or instructional purposes, take screenshots and scale the display window to full screen mode or smaller, with no scroll bars helping you to troubleshoot faster.

Self-Powered Reliability

Powered from the server-side USB connection, the KVM adapter doesn't require an AC outlet so you can connect to any PC or device that has a VGA and USB port, even if there’s no power outlet available.

Take It Anywhere

This pocket-sized adapter features a compact design that easily fits inside your laptop bag and requires no additional accessories to connect, eliminating the need to lug around a large, awkward traditional crash cart to troubleshoot and service your systems.

StarTech.com offers a wide selection of high-quality KVM-related products to help you access your systems more efficiently without the expense and clutter of extra keyboards, mice and monitors. This USB KVM crash cart adapter is backed by a StarTech.com 2-year warranty and free lifetime technical support.

Data Sheets

Frequently Asked Questions

Installation

In order to view the computer connected to the laptop crash cart adapter, you must install the software package either from the USB stick or StarTech.com website. The software must be installed prior to using the device on your computer.

Hardware requirements

You require the following components in your hardware setup:

A host computer with a female VGA and USB ports. This is the computer that will be controlled.

A client computer running Windows with an available USB port. This computer will control the host computer.

Install the software

Drivers and software must be installed on the client computer before you connect the components. To install the software, complete the following:

Download the latest drivers from the StarTech.com website (http://www.startech.com/Support). You can find the part number and product ID on the product packaging.

Note: Windows typically saves the files to the Downloads folder that is associated with your user account (for example, C:\Users\your_name\Downloads).

When the download is complete, right-click the zip folder that you downloaded, click Extract All, and follow the on-screen instructions.

In the list of extracted files, navigate to the Windows folder, right-click the Setup.exe file and click Run as Administrator.

Note: If the Run as Administrator option is not available, you might be attempting to run the installer from within the zipped file. Extract the files using the instructions in step 2.

Follow the on-screen prompts to install the device drivers and software.

Install the hardware

Connect the USB and VGA cables from the crash cart adapter to the host computer.

Connect the mini USB cable to the crash cart adapter and the client computer.

Plug in the crash cart adapter and run the USB Crash Cart software. The software automatically detects the settings of the connected computer and shows the display from the computer. When you move the mouse cursor to the display, the keyboard and mouse control is redirected from the client to the host computer.

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In order to view the computer connected to the KVM console adapter, you must install the software package either from the USB stick or the StarTech.com website. The software must be installed prior to using the device on your computer. To install the software, do the following:

Download the latest drivers from the StarTech.com website (http://www.startech.com/Support). You can find the part number and product ID on the product’s packaging.

Note: Mac OS X will typically save the files to the Downloads folder that is associated with your user account (for example,hard_drive_name\Users\your_name\Downloads).

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How to

In Device Manager, under the appropriate heading, confirm that your expansion card is listed and that there isn't an exclamation mark next to it. For example, a USB controller card would be under Universal Serial Bus controllers.

Your USB device is listed according to the name of the chipset. To determine the name of the chipset of your USB device, navigate to www.StarTech.com and look on the Technical Specifications tab for your product.

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To confirm that the Mac OS detects your USB device, complete the following:

Click the Apple icon.

Click About This Mac.

Click More Info or System Report.

Under the appropriate heading, confirm that your USB device is listed and that there isn't an error. For example, a network card would be under Ethernet Cards.

You may need to refresh the System Information page after you plug in your device. To do so, press Command + R with the System Information page open.

Your USB device is listed according to the name of the chipset. To determine the name of the chipset of your USB device, navigate to www.StarTech.com and look on the Technical Specifications tab for your product.

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Troubleshooting

When you troubleshoot issues with a USB crash cart adapter, there are some quick tests that you can complete to rule out potential problems. You can test to make sure that the following components are working correctly and are not the source of the issue:

Video cables

Video source

Computer system

USB crash cart adapter

To test your setup components, try the following:

Use the video cables, video source, computer, and USB crash cart adapter in another setup to see if the problem is with the components or the setup.

Use a different video cable, video source, computer, and USB crash cart adapter in your setup to see if the problem persists. Ideally, you should test a component that you know works in another setup.

When you test your cables, it is recommended that you do the following:

Test each cable individually.

Use short cables.

When you test the video cables, video source, and the USB crash cart adapter, it is recommended that you do the following:

If the device is listed with an error, follow the instructions on the website to reinstall the drivers.

In order for the adapter to work correctly, the software must be installed on your operating system. After the software is installed on your operating system, run the software. The software automatically detects the video source when it is present on the video port.